The Dillington Hotel,Dillington, AK was the location of some mysterious shenanigans in January,1999.
A young woman,Deanna Griggs working at the hotel filed a complaint.Ms. Griggs last worked as a collections clerk for Dillingham Hotel/L&M from March 1998 through October 9, 1998. She worked Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and earned $10.00 per hour.
Ms. Griggs gave birth to a baby on July 12, 1998. Ms. Kallstrom gave Ms. Griggs permission to bring the baby to work for one month because she was breastfeeding the baby. Ms. Kallstrom requested in mid-September that Ms. Griggs find daycare arrangements for the baby because she believed it had gone on beyond the one month that she approved. Ms. Kallstrom also had heard a complaint that the baby was a disruption at the office. Shortly after Ms. Griggs spoke to Ms. Kallstrom, she spoke with Mr. Garner about her situation. Mr. Garner testified that Ms. Griggs was upset about not being able to continue bringing the baby to work. She mentioned that if it was a choice between her baby and work, she would stay home and take care of the baby.
After leaving work, Ms. Griggs filed for unemployment insurance benefits on January 5, 1999. She alleged at that time that she was sexually harassed at work. She informed the Alaska Employment Service that Mr. Kallstrom acted inappropriately, and in a harassing manner. She reported that Mr. Kallstrom pulled her into his lap on one occasion while she was in his office, when she had asked where she should sit. She immediately got up and said that was not a good place to sit. On another occasion she alleges he pulled her pants away from her stomach after the baby was born and commented about weight loss. The last incident was when he made comment about her breast feeding. She did not inform anyone else at the office of any inappropriate or harassing behavior by Mr. Kallstrom. Mr. Kallstrom denies any wrong or harassing behavior. She was supervised by Mr. Kallstrom, Ms. Kallstrom, and Mr. Garner.
Mr. Clark lives with Ms. Griggs and is the father of her children. He testified that Ms. Griggs complained to him on more than one occasion about Mr. Kallstrom's behavior. He requested that she quit working there. Ms. Griggs reported Mr. Kallstrom's behavior to the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights on December 21, 1998 at the suggestion of Mr. Clark. An investigation is continuing on her behalf.
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DIVISION
P.O. BOX 25509
JUNEAU, ALASKA 99802-5509
APPEAL TRIBUNAL DECISION
Docket No. 99 0250
Hearing Date: February 24, 1999
CLAIMANT: INTERESTED EMPLOYER:
DEANNA GRIGGS DILLINGHAM HOTEL/L&M
CLAIMANT APPEARANCES: EMPLOYER APPEARANCES:
Deanna Griggs James Garner
Anthony Clark Robert Kallstrom
Blanche Kallstrom
ESD APPEARANCES:
A worker has good cause for voluntarily leaving work because of a supervisor's actions only if the supervisor follows a course of conduct amounting to hostility, abuse, or unreasonable discrimination. In addition, the worker must make a reasonable attempt to resolve the matter prior to leaving work. Griffith, Comm'r. Dec. 8822158, December 20, 1988. Affirmed in Griffith v. State Department of Labor, Alaska Superior Court, No. 4FA-89-0120 Civil, September 25, 1989.
Ms. Griggs was supervised by several people including the two owners, and the bookkeeper of the business. She alleges that Mr. Kallstrom sexually harassed her on three occasions. However, she did not complain of Mr. Kallstrom's behavior to anyone at work, even though she had more than one supervisor. While sexual harassment should not be tolerated for any reason in the workplace, it is up to the victim to make the situation known in an attempt to resolve the matter. She did not contact the Human Rights Commission until approximately three months after leaving work. Ms. Griggs has not shown that she attempted to resolve the matter of sexual harassment prior to leaving work, or that she had no alternative other than to leave work.
The only complaint Ms. Griggs made to the employer was about her daycare situation to Mr. Garner when she was informed that she was to find alternate daycare arrangements. Ms. Griggs behavior makes it apparent that the daycare issue was the reason that she left work when she did, and that Mr. Kallstrom's behavior was a secondary issue. Therefore, Ms. Griggs left work because she was told to make other daycare arrangements. The inability to continue to bring a child to work does not provide compelling reason for leaving work at the time that she did. Therefore, Ms. Griggs quit work without good cause. Accordingly, benefits remain denied as shown on the determination.
DECISION
The February 4, 1999, voluntary leaving determination is AFFIRMED. Benefits are disqualified for the weeks ending October 17, 1998 through November 21, 1998. Potential benefits are reduced by three times the claimant's maximum weekly benefit amount as stated on the determination.
APPEAL RIGHTS
This decision is final unless an appeal is filed to the Commissioner of Labor within 30 days after the decision is mailed to each party. The appeal period may be extended only if the appeal is delayed for circumstances beyond the party's control. A statement of appeal rights and procedures is enclosed.
Dated and mailed in Juneau, Alaska, on February 25, 1999.
While the court rulled in favor of the Kallstroms regarding the request for back pay,this did not resolve the issue of alleged harrassment. The Diarist is reporting facts of a legal dispute between Blanche and Robert Kallstrom and a female employee and that is all I am doing.These facts are easily obtained on line at the link furnished below. I am niot adding any opinions of my own as I have been unable to find any resolution on the harrassment issue.
Wikipedia entry:
Todd Palin was born in Dillingham, Alaska, to Jim Palin and his first wife, Blanche Kallstrom.
Robert Kallstrom is Blanche Kallstrom's second husband.
http://72.14.205.104/...